A/N: Hey guys! I had this up a long, long time ago, but in re-reading it to post the next chapter I almost couldn't get through it. So. I am re-doing it.
I have included the original chapter at the bottom of this in italics, so you can see how I really have improved. I need a beta reader though... Gah. Anyways, here she is.
Sarah laughed as she splashed towards the shore, her hazel eyes twinkling in the full midday sun. She was wearing a black swimsuit, her school robes and uniform laying forgotten on the shore where Fred stood, trying to pull his uniform off in half the speed it took Sarah. He finally managed to get out of his pants, leaving them in an equally messy pile on the shore as he waded into the lake. He squeaked from the cold, causing Sarah to laugh and splash him from her spot farther in. She was always the first in, first under, and last out. She loved the water - the lake had called to her every since her first day, almost two years ago...
Sarah bit her lower lip and pulled her trunk closer to her body as she watched the bedlam that was Platform 9 3/4 on September 1st. All of the students were running around, laughing and yelling, getting their things onto the train and finding their friends. She turned and said goodbye to her mother, only to see they were both trying to keep tears in. They giggled and Sarah hugged her mother, then went onto the train.
Wandering up and down the corridor, Sarah was forced to conclude that everyone already had enough friends to fill every compartment. The train had left the station and was on its way when she turned from her second trip up and down the length of the train.
"They wouldn't have signed up too many student, would they?" Sarah wondered aloud. She was starting to wonder if she should just wait at the back of the train...
"Nah, they never do. If it's full, though, people have to make friends." Sarah looked up to see a red-headed boy her own age but much taller. He seemed to have already hit his growth spurt, Sarah thought, bemoaning her own short stature.
"Oh, I guess I missed that message..." Sarah said, trailing off and returning the boy's smile.
"Well, you can always sit with me and my brother. We were going to sit with our brothers, but their compartments are all full, so we ended up with a nice kid named Lee Jordan. Here, let me help you." He grabbed her trunk and lead the way to a compartment that Sarah had already passed. He opened the door and threw her trunk up to the overhead compartment, making the introductions.
"This is Lee Jordan, he got the compartment first and was nice enough to share with us. This is my brother, George Weasley, and I'm Fred." At this point, he turned and shook Sarah's hand.
"I'm Sarah Heath," Sarah beamed and sat in the last spot, across from Lee.
The train sped on towards Hogwarts as they sat and chatted, finding out how much they had in common. Sarah was delighted that the twins and Lee were going to be in her year, and as the evening drew on, they formed a friendship that would weather many changes and hardships but never break. It was the beginning of something special.
Original Chapter
Sarah peeled off her dress to reveal a nice black bikini underneath. She smiled at Fred, who was still taking off his pants to show his maroon swimming trunks. Sarah raced into the water, always the first one to go in. She laughed when Fred got in to his ankles and complained about how cold it was. She was always the first in, first under, and last out. She splashed Fred and then shrieked when he splashed back. They raced and played, until later, when they relaxed towards the shore and let the waves wash over them. Others looked at them like they were crazy, swimming in the lake at Hogwarts like that, but they didn't mind. It had all started two years ago, on their first day at Hogwarts...
She was nervous. Her first day at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The other students didn't seem to mind as they piled onto the train. She waved goodbye to her mother and father and promised once again to send an owl as soon as she arrived. Walking down the train, she came to a conclusion. Everyone there already had enough friends to fill up every compartment. She finnally got to the last one and noticed that it, too, was full.
"They wouldn't sign up too many students, would they?" She wondered aloud.
"Somehow, I doubt that." Someone answered. Sarah turned to see a boy her age with red hair, freckles and an engaging smile.
"Oh... sorry, it's just, all of the compartments are full, and I don't really have anywhere to sit..." She mumbled.
"You can sit with my brother George and I, if you like. We were going to sit with our other brothers, but their friends have taken over." the young man replied.
"Oh, thank you." Sarah said and let him lead her to a compartment just down the way. When she entered she noticed that the other boy looked to exact same as the first boy. She felt out of place with her plain brown hair and hazel eyes, but they soon made her feel at home.
"What house do you think you'll be in?" The boy who had led her in (who she now knew as Fred) asked.
"Well, I'd say Gryffindor, by order of elimination. You?" Sarah said and opened her pack to reveal some sweets which she offered around.
"Gryffindor. Just like the rest of the family." George told her.
"What d'you mean, 'by order of elimination'?" Fred asked.
"We-ell, I'm too lazy about school work to be a Ravenclaw, I'm not really a Hufflepuff, and I am NOT a Slytherin. I'm just not mean enough." With the last part, she added a wink.
"Never really thought of it that way. So Gryffindor's basically a choice by default?" someone said from the doorway.
"No offence meant." Sarah said and offered the newcommer a sweet.
"Thanks. My name's Lee Jordan, by the way. I think I'll be a Gryffindor too."
As they consumed their sweets, the train cheerily chugged it's way to Hogwarts and the group became close friends and made ties that would change over time, but never break. It was the beginning of something special.